A tip of the hat to Pa. firefighters fighting western wild fires | Editorial

Pennsylvania's volunteer and professional firefighters are a hardy lot.

For not nearly enough thanks and most definitely not enough pay, these brave and men and women routinely rush into harm's way, saving lives and saving property with heroic regularity.

So we're going to take a moment today to acknowledge the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry workers and volunteer firefighters who are currently in Utah, where they're working to contain devastating wildfires.

As PennLive's Christine Vendel reports, these local heroes fly out of state every summer to assist their colleagues in the west. One team of 20 Pennsylvania firefighters returned Tuesday, Aug. 7 after spending 15 days on the front lines in Oregon.

In Oregon, the Pennsylvania firefighters worked up to 16 hours a day battling the blaze amid punishing heat.

As Vendel reported, the firefighters from Pennsylvania worked to establish fire lines to help contain the wildfire and prevent it from gaining new territory. The firefighters cleared areas of trees and other "fuel" for the fire to stop the fire from spreading.

And each squad working in Oregon had a member who served as an expert in cutting down trees. That person, known as a tree faller, often carries a chainsaw all day for weeks to be able to clear fire lines.

It's an extraordinary effort, and one that does not get nearly enough recognition.

There's plenty enough in this campaign season for us to disagree about. But for right now, we'll put all that aside, and just say this:

Thank you for all you do. And thank you for sharing those skills with a lucky nation.

For those among you in Utah who are still fighting the fires, get home safely. And for those who have returned, welcome home.